Category Archives: Press Releases

Post navigation

United Wisconsin Lauds SCOTUS Decision to Halt Last Minute Implementation of Voter ID Law

Supreme Court of the United States issues 6-3 decision blocking implementation of Wisconsin Voter ID law ahead of November 4

MADISON- United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck made the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision blocking implementation of Wisconsin’s Voter ID law for the November election:

“Wisconsin voters can breathe a sigh of relief tonight, with the knowledge that their right to vote will not be suppressed by an unconstitutional Voter ID law promoted by Governor Scott Walker and his Republican allies in the legislature.

In a blatantly desperate political move, Walker made last minute administrative changes to the process of obtaining an ID and nearly succeeded in suppressing the votes of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who lack the required photo identification.

Wisconsin’s law, considered one of the strictest in the nation, is the centerpiece of the Walker administration’s war on voting, and aims to stifle the voices of senior citizens, low-income and minority voters, and students at the ballot box.

With less than 4 weeks until election day, the Supreme Court has put the rule of law ahead of the Scott Walker’s political gamesmanship. Tonight’s decision ensures that the right to vote in Wisconsin’s upcoming gubernatorial election will not be infringed upon by an unfair and unconstitutional voter ID law. And I fully expect that Wisconsin voters are now more galvanized than ever to put an end to Walker’s war on voting by making their voices heard in the voting booth on election day.”

MADISON –United Wisconsin has launched a new on-line interactive tool to help Wisconsin residents navigate voter registration and the newly implemented Voter ID law. The tool asks a series of questions to help voters determine what information and documents are needed and how they can go about obtaining those documents in advance of the November 4 election.

“The decision to implement Wisconsin’s Voter ID Law just 7 weeks before election day has caused a great deal of confusion for Wisconsin voters,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “Since the decision was made just over a week ago, our office has been fielding calls and emails from individuals unsure whether they have the ID they need on election day. We are launching our new online tool to reach those voters who do not know if they already have what they need or who may be unsure of how to obtain the necessary photo ID.”

“The appeals court’s ruling to allow implementation of the Voter ID law this close to election day was a wrongheaded move that could disenfranchise 300,000 voters across the state,” added Subeck. “But the ruling is also motivating angry voters to get out to the polls in large numbers, and it is our hope that our ‘Got ID, Wisconsin?’ will educate voters about the new law and ensure that their votes will count on election day.”

Voters can access the “Got ID, Wisconsin?” interactive on-line tool at www.unitedwivote.com. United Wisconsin is actively promoting the website on social media and through other on-line venues.

# # #

United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action.

MADISON- United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck made the following statement in response to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to allow implementation of Wisconsin’s Voter ID law in time for the November 4 election:

“Today’s ruling by the 7th Circuit Court is a giant leap backward for our democracy. Wisconsin’s voter ID law, considered one of the strictest in the nation, is the centerpiece of the Walker administration’s war on voting, and aims to stifle the voices of senior citizens, low-income and minority voters, and students at the ballot box. With today’s ruling, the courts have played right into the political gamesmanship of Scott Walker and his Republican allies.

In a blatantly political move, putting his own political ambitions ahead of the people of Wisconsin, Walker made largely cosmetic changes to the process of getting a voter ID card in hopes the courts would fall for his shenanigans. Unfortunately, the 7th Circuit Court did just that.

This ruling to allow implementation of Voter ID will only further cement the resolve of progressive voters in Wisconsin to vote Scott Walker out of office. United Wisconsin remains committed to educating voters across the state about this critical election and to ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise her or his right to vote.”

# # #

United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

“Susan Happ is the clear choice for Wisconsin’s next Attorney General,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “It is time for a new direction in the Department of Justice. Susan Happ will defend voting rights, workers’ rights, women’s rights and civil rights, making her the leader we need to put Wisconsin’s top law enforcement agency back on track again.”

United Wisconsin also praised Happ’s experience as an effective prosecutor serving as District Attorney in Jefferson County, as an attorney in private practice, and as a committed volunteer in her community.

“Happ’s experience as an effective prosecutor delivering justice for crime victims, coupled with her strong commitment to defending our democracy and our civil rights, position her well to lead as Wisconsin’s next Attorney General,” said Subeck. “United Wisconsin’s members are proud to stand with Susan Happ and are ready to work to elect Happ as our next Attorney General.”

# # #

United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

Madison – With the August 12 primary and November 4 general election drawing near, United Wisconsin released today their 2013-14 Democracy in Wisconsin Legislative Scorecard, a report documenting the voting records of members of the Wisconsin assembly and senate on key bills affecting the health of Wisconsin’s democracy. The legislative scorecard, which includes bills ranging from voting rights to money in politics to critical democracy reform legislation, shows how the Republican legislature voted in near lock-step to undermine Wisconsin’s core values of open democracy and clean and accountable government.

“During the 2013-14 legislative session, the Republican-led state legislature has launched unprecedented attacks on Wisconsin’s democracy. During the last two years, Wisconsin has seen laws passed that place new limits on voting rights and allow more special interest money to influence our elections, yet Republican leadership failed to move forward on common-sense redistricting reform,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “With important elections coming up on August 12 and November 4, this legislative scorecard serves as a guide for Wisconsin voters to ensure they know exactly where their representatives stand on these vital democracy issues before casting their ballots.”

The 2013-14 legislative scorecard documents the voting record of each member of the Wisconsin State Assembly on eight separate democracy bills and the State Senate on five separate bills.

# # # United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

Signature total exceeds minimum required; petitioners call for referendum to be placed on November 2014 election ballot

BURLINGTON, WI – Today, United Wisconsin submitted petition signatures as part of the move to amend movement calling on the City of Burlington to place an advisory referendum on the November 2014 general election ballot calling for the reversal of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, which granted corporations the power to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. 610 petition signatures were collected in Burlington over the course of the 60-day grassroots petition campaign, exceeding the total amount of signatures required under state law.

“Our petition drive was met with bipartisan support by the residents of Burlington, which demonstrates how concerned voters from across party lines are about the corrupting influence the flood of unlimited special interest money is having on our elections,” said Ronni Endemann, a United Wisconsin volunteer leader and Burlington resident. “With the submission of these petition signatures, we now call on the Burlington city council to move this resolution to a city-wide referendum in November and give every Burlington resident the opportunity to make their voice heard on overturning Citizens United.”

The completion of this petition drive marks the latest Wisconsin municipality to take action either by petitioning or lobbying of local elected officials for passage of an advisory resolution addressing Citizens United and the corrupting effect of unlimited special interest spending in elections.

On April 1, 2014, 13 more Wisconsin communities voted overwhelmingly to pass referendums calling for the reversal of Citizens United, including the neighboring communities of Elkhorn and Delavan. To date, 41 Wisconsin communities have taken action either by petition or passage of advisory resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment to establish that only human beings are entitled to constitutional rights and that corporate political spending is not equivalent to free speech.

Nationally, 16 states and over 500 municipalities have gone on record in opposition to the Citizens United ruling since 2010. Most recently, the states of Vermont and California officially passed resolutions calling for a constitutional convention to address the issue of overturning Citizens United.

“With each passing day, more and more Wisconsinites are sounding the alarm by demanding reform to address the corrupting effects of big money in our elections brought on by Citizens United and related decisions,” said United Wisconsin Political Director Erik Kirkstein. “In poll after poll, the issue of combating corruption is met with bipartisan support. Now, the residents of Burlington will have the opportunity to join this growing movement by voicing their support at the ballot box for common-sense campaign finance reform.”

United Wisconsin is an independent grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

MADISON, WI – Based on evidence provided in Exhibit C of the John Doe documents unsealed Thursday, failing to prosecute illegal campaign coordination exposes a grave threat to the public’s trust Wisconsin elections by undermining state campaign finance safeguards in place to prevent corruption.

“The unsealed John Doe documents reveal a clear case of the corruption of Wisconsin elections at the hands of Scott Walker’s campaign and outside conservatives groups. The failure to bring charges in Walker’s “criminal scheme” puts in jeopardy Wisconsin campaign finance laws which were put in place to ensure the integrity of the electoral process,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck.

Prosecutors laid out the case that Gov. Scott Walker was at the center of a “criminal scheme” to coordinate illegal campaign fundraising among his campaign and conservative groups to fund the running of phony “issue advocacy” campaigns clearly designed for the direct political benefit of Walker’s campaign and Republican legislators facing recall elections in 2011-12. Despite what appears to be clear evidence of illegal coordination, a recent stay issued by Federal Judge Rudolf Randa halting further investigation leaves Wisconsin campaign finance laws governing disclosure of campaign spending unenforceable and stripped of legitimacy.

According Francis D. Schmitz, special prosecutor in the John Doe investigation “Movants argue that “coordination” of political activities that do not arguably express advocacy cannot be a crime under Wisconsin law. These arguments fail to recognize or misinterpret Wisconsin statutes, administrative rules, and G.A.B. formal opinions. Movants have also ignored controlling Wisconsin case law. Indeed, in their submissions, movants – FOSW, Citizens for a Strong America, Inc. (CFSA) Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Inc. (WMC) and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce-Issues Mobilization Council (WMC-IMC)/& and Wisconsin Club for Growth (WiCFG) appear to have tacitly admitted to violating Wisconsin law.”

“Failing to prosecute what is clearly a violation of state campaign finance law leaves our elections more vulnerable than ever to this type of alleged illegal coordination and erodes any sense in eyes of voters that Wisconsin elections are truly fair,” Subeck said.

# # #United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing progressive values, strengthening democracy, and ensuring every Wisconsinite has a voice. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

BURLINGTON – Building upon the nationwide nonpartisan movement to get big money out of elections, United Wisconsin kicked off a petition drive on Saturday, May 17th, in the City of Burlington to place an advisory referendum on the November ballot calling for the reversal of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.

The petition drive in Burlington marks the latest municipality in Wisconsin to petition in opposition to the Citizens United ruling, which granted corporate entities the power to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections through entities like Super PACs, overturning nearly a century of settled law regarding campaign finance regulation in the United States.

“For me, the issue comes down to whether or not we want our elected officials beholden to people power or money power,” said Ronni Endemann, a Burlington resident and United Wisconsin volunteer leading the petition drive. “With this petition drive, our community will have the opportunity make their voices heard, and to join with cities across Wisconsin and the country who are calling for reform to get big money out of politics.”

Petition circulators will have 60 days to collect the signatures needed to place the referendum on the ballot in November 2014. According to Wisconsin state statute, placing a municipal referendum on the ballot requires petition signatures equivalent to 15% of the total votes from that municipally in the last gubernatorial general election.

Since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, special interest spending on elections has skyrocketed. According to a recent report released by the WISPIRG Foundation and Demos entitled “Billion Dollar Democracy”, total spending on the 2012 election cycle topped $5.2 billion, with over $1 billion coming from outside groups like Super PACS. Even more alarming, nearly 60% of the total Super PAC funding came from just 159 individuals making contributions of at least $1 million.

According to a recent poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for Democracy Corps, 80% of respondents opposed the Citizens United ruling, including 72% of Republican, 82% of Democratic and 84% of independent voters who believe the ruling leads to more corruption in the political process.

On April 1, 2014, United Wisconsin and partners passed 13 similar referendums across Wisconsin, including the neighboring cities of Delavan and Elkhorn. In both cities, voters passed the referendum by large margins, with Delavan passing with 76% and Elkhorn 69%. 41 municipalities in Wisconsin are now on record calling for a constitutional amendment stating corporations are not people entitled to constitutional rights, and regulations on political spending do not encroach on first amendment free speech rights.
Nationwide, 16 states have joined the over 500 municipalities have called for a constitutional amendment reversing Citizens United.

“The movement to overturn the Citizens United decision is the unifying issue of our time,” said United Wisconsin Political Director Erik Kirkstein. “This campaign taking place in Burlington and across our state and nation is an example of people taking direct action to restore our democracy for We the People as the founders of our nation intended and demand common-sense reform to combat the corrupting influence of big money in politics.”

MILWAUKEE – United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck released the following statement after the Milwaukee County Board voted 14-4 to override County Executive Chris Abele’s veto of a resolution placing an countywide advisory referendum on the November election ballot calling for the reversal of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, which granted corporate entities the power to spend unlimited sums of money to influence elections. County Executive Abele vetoed the resolution on May 2nd, after a 13-5 super-majority of County Board supervisors passed the resolution April 24th.

“We applaud the vote today by a super-majority of Milwaukee County Board supervisors who stood up for democracy and overrode County Executive Abele’s veto to allow Milwaukee County residents the opportunity to be heard on reversing the disastrous Citizens United ruling. Citizens United gave special interest groups a bullhorn that they’ve used to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens in our elections. But since the ruling, an unprecedented nonpartisan movement has been sweeping across Wisconsin and the nation calling for fundamental reforms to restore our democracy. Milwaukee County voters have the right to make their voices heard, and with today’s vote, they can now vote in November to join the 41 Wisconsin cities and over 500 nationwide who have passed resolutions demanding big money out of politics and an end to our democracy being sold to the highest bidder.”

# # #
United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing progressive values, strengthening democracy, and ensuring every Wisconsinite has a voice. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

MADISON – At a press conference at the State Capitol today, Money Out, Voters In Wisconsin, a diverse coalition of over 30 public advocacy, labor, and good government groups in Wisconsin committed to combating the influence of big special interest money in elections, joined Wisconsin Democracy Campaign to release their new analysis of the potential impact of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, McCutcheon v FEC, on Wisconsin elections. The analysis revealed that wealthy political donors could have funneled more that $6 million each to candidates in the 2010 and 2012 state and local elections if the state’s $10,000 aggregate annual limit on campaign contributions had not existed.

“By striking down aggregate campaign contribution limits, the Supreme Court’s McCutcheon ruling handed control of our elections to the smallest fraction of wealthy campaign donors who will now spend even more to decide the outcome of elections,” Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Director Mike McCabe said. “The removal of state limits could have a devastating impact on Wisconsin elections, giving millionaire and billionaire donors even greater influence over our elections and drowning out the voices of everyday Wisconsinites.”

On April 2nd, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC struck down the aggregate campaign contribution limit, which had been in place for over 40 years to curb the corrupting influence of money in politics, as unconstitutional. The previous limit for total contributions to all federal candidates and committees was $123,300 during an election cycle.

“In Citizens United, the Supreme Court handed a giant megaphone to the wealthiest interests,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Director. “Now, with their ruling in McCutcheon, they’ve turned up the volume even higher. It’s time to amend the Constitution to overturn the Court’s wrong-headed decisions permitting a handful of millionaires and corporate interests to dominate our elections.”

The day before the McCutcheon decision was handed down, 13 Wisconsin communities passed local advisory referendums by wide margins calling on state and federal leaders to support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision and to oppose big money in our elections. To date, 41 local municipalities in Wisconsin have gone on record in support of a constitutional amendment.

The Money Out, Voters In Wisconsin coalition announced plans to continue community-based petition drives across Wisconsin urging the state to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating corporations are not people entitled to constitutional rights, and regulations on political spending do not encroach on first amendment free speech rights.

The Democracy Campaign analysis found that if the $10,000 contribution limit had not existed in 2012 well-heeled donors could have given at least $6.8 million each to candidates in about 4,700 state and local elections, 386 PACs and 157 political party committees – 680 times more than the current contribution limit. In 2010, rich contributors could have given at least $6.1 million each to candidates in about 4,700 state and local races, 319 PACs and 164 political party committees if Wisconsin had no aggregate limit on total contributions. That’s 610 times more than the current contribution limit.

There were only 299 individuals who gave $10,000 or more to state candidates in 2010 and 2012 – about five one-thousandths of one percent of the state’s 2012 population.

In 2012, only 1,219 elite donors nationwide came within 10% of hitting the federal aggregate limit. Research from U.S. PIRG and Demos projects that without an aggregate contribution limit, this same set of 1,219 donors would have more than tripled their gifts in 2012 to $459.3 million, nearly 50% more money than President Obama and Governor Romney raised combined from more than 4 million small donors ($313 million) in the 2012 election.

“The Supreme Court decisions in Citizens United and McCutcheon expose how out-of-touch the court is to the reality of corruption in our politics tied to big special interest election spending,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “Our coalition will continue moving forward by putting local referendums on the ballot in Wisconsin in November and every election thereafter until leaders on the state, and ultimately federal, level heed the will of the people, restore our democracy, and put an end to the days of our elections being sold to the highest bidder.”